REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Director
Capital Projects Department
SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Scott p. sehm, PE, Assistant Director
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
JASON MILLER, PE, Licensed Professional Engineer
Capital Projects Department, Design Services Division
SUBJECT
Title
Reject the bid for the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon Project. (Bid File No. 12402193-1) (Council District 2, 4, and 6)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council reject the one bid for the Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) Project, which includes three pedestrian crossings: East Alluvial Avenue and North Sierra Vista Avenue, North Millbrook Avenue and East Donner Avenue, and North Maroa Avenue and West Browning Avenue.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The proposed project will install RRFB equipment and associated surface improvements at three locations near existing school crossings: East Alluvial Avenue and North Sierra Vista Avenue, North Millbrook Avenue and East Donner Avenue, and North Maroa Avenue and West Browning Avenue.
With one bid received at nearly double the available budget, staff recommends the City Council reject all bids for the project. Upon rejection of all bids, staff will evaluate project delivery options to keep project costs within available budget resources.
The Project is funded by the Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) and local funds.
BACKGROUND
The City received state HSIP funding to construct RRFB equipment and associated surface improvements at three school crossings: East Alluvial Avenue and North Sierra Vista Avenue (Council District 6), North Millbrook Avenue and East Donner Avenue (Council District 4), and North Maroa Avenue and West Browning Avenue (Council District 4, County Supervisorial District 2).
The Project will provide improved pedestrian safety at the existing crosswalks by installing pedestrian beacons at both sides of the roadway accompanied by reconstructed pedestrian ramps, crosswalk and lane striping, signage, and minor sidewalk reconstruction. The Civil infrastructure improvements were designed by the City’s Capital Projects Department on behalf of the Public Works Department, and took approximately twenty (20) months to complete. No right-of-way acquisition was required for this project.
The Maroa Avenue and Browning Avenue crossing is partially within the County of Fresno’s jurisdiction and a Project Specific Supplemental Agreement (PSSA) between the City of Fresno and County of Fresno was executed on July 2, 2024, pursuant to the Master Dual Jurisdictional Cooperative Agreement between the City of Fresno and County of Fresno, executed on September 10, 2019, to allow project cost sharing between the two agencies.
The project was initially bid earlier this year, with project plans and specifications distributed to twenty-seven (27) prospective bidders. No qualified bids were received for the public bid opening on May 21, 2024, and the project was rebid with revisions made to the contractor’s licensing requirements to include C-10 licensed contractors to attract more bidders.
Staff prepared a revised Notice Inviting Bids which was published in the Fresno Business Journal on July 19, 2024, posted on the City’s website, and sent to six (6) building exchanges. Project plans and Specifications were distributed to twenty-eight (28) prospective bidders. One (1) sealed bid proposal was received and opened in a public bid opening on August 20, 2024. PTM General Engineering Services, Inc., of Riverside, CA, submitted the bid and was determined to be the lowest responsive and responsible bidder with a bid of $994,049.00. The expiration date of the bid is October 23, 2024.
Staff recommends Council reject the bid, as the single bid received is nearly double the engineer’s estimate, and exceeds the allocated funding for the project. Upon rejection of the bid, staff will evaluate project delivery options to keep project costs within available budget resources.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
By the definition provided in the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines, Section 15378, the rejection of all bids does not qualify as a “project” as defined by the CEQA requirements.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local Preference is not applicable due to State of California funding requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT
Rejection of the bid will result in additional staff costs to coordinate construction of the proposed improvements; however, the adopted project budget has sufficient funding to cover these costs. There will be no impact to the General Fund. The Project falls within Council District 2, 4, and 6.
Attachments:
Vicinity Map
Bid Evaluation